Posted on 2019-07-22

Planning

Steal the MacGuffin 2019-07-22

Intending to limit the archetypes to only these:

• Combat Mage (Wizard)
• Street Samurai (Fighter)

Additional notes:

• Cold open the game.
• Players already know each other.
• Start with level 2. Multiclass available.
• Disregard encumberance, within practical reason.
• Combat Mages can only carry 1 magazine to begin.
• Does not need to worry about material components.
• Street Samurai starts with 10 magazines.

Campaign

• Cold opening.
• Early afternoon, spring, overcast, light breeze. 2070ish.
• Cross and move down the street of the downtown area.
• Steal the briefcase from the target.
• Quietly move back up the street and exit in the vehicle.

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• Return to the rendezvous location, an office building.
• Negotiate the payment. Find out the case holds a device that restores side effects from cyberware.
• Double cross by one of the others in the room.
• Attempt to exit with the MacGuffin.
• Return to vehicle and drive off.

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• We should create more fighting styles.

Characters

Zuko (Agent I)

MP5 p308, SA, BF (2 rounds), FA (2 turns), 30/120, nd6+2 for n=Roll-DC/2 +1 for n <= bullets target difference Lined Coat, AC 13, resistance to bullets Cyber Eye (military eye) Katana, 1d8+2(1d10+2), slashing, 2lbs comlink medkit (healing potion)

pres mending fireb

copperlang detect mag burning hand shield jump feather

Cendre (Agent S++)

Manhunter heavy pistol, SA, 50/150, 1d10+1 Consealed holster Armoured duster (lined coat) Knife, cougar fine blade, 1d6+3, 30/60 comlink medkit (healing potion)

Eyes x2, (attack +1 for 1, +3 for both) (perception +5 per) lowlight, darkvision, infra Ears x2 (perception +5) gains echo location at higher levels. Datajack

• Notes from paper

Entering Combat

In order:

• surprise
• initiative
• turns
• repeat

Turns

Unordered:

• Move
• Action
• Bonus Action
• Interact With Object
• Reactions (interruptions from other actors)

Feedback from players

• Needs more work, but not disappointed.
• Some of the SR4 to D&D conversion rules can probably map to existing rules.
• FullAuto SuppressiveFire damage seems lethal enough, but since it happens over the 6 seconds of a turn it needs a sustained action rule.
• Feedback turned into a discussion about whether SR or D&D culturally appropriates more and how much is okay and what is offensive.

Playtest 1, Steal the MacGuffin

Big Cheese hired the team and provided a grumpy but competent driver for their van.

In the early afternoon on a cloudy day in July, a van dropped off Zuko and Cendre in a busy downtown area to obtain the briefcase held by "Big Mac" by whatever means. As they approached, a not-so-well-dressed dwarf, Bystander A followed Zuko down the street. Cendre split off and circled back to tail Bystander A. A group of rent-a-cops, Thugs C, followed Cendre. Zuko walked through an extrnal passage way under the middle of one of the buildings and used a [SPELLNAME] to distract Bystander A. Then he entered the cafe, full of customers. Bystander A asked for help, and Zuko told him to go into the corner of the cafe. Meanwhile, Cendre approached Thugs C, to exchange words, but the group passed him by while one told him to leave the problem to them. Just as Thugs C, surrounded the cafe from both sides, Bystander B, a mechanized drone window washer operator jumped down from one of the buildings, killing one and mortally injuring another of Thugs C. Bystander B continued into the passage towards the cafe to attack the remaining members of Thugs C. Zuko and Bystander B killed all but one of Thugs C from the cafe. This left two survivors from Thugs C, who retreated.

Meanwhile, Cendre engaged in close melee with Big Mac, who nearly clobbered Cendre to death with his warhammer, though Cendre snatched the MacGuffin. But during the struggle, Agent D appeared and Big Mac fled the scene.

Bystander A and B left together.

Zuko and Cendre returned to the van with the MacGuffin.

Preliminary Character Creation Rules

Early on in July through September 2020, we used the following rules based on existing game systems:

• Start with level 2. Multiclass available.
• Disregard encumbrance, within practical reason.

Choose Being

• Dwarf
• Elf
• Human

Choose Class

• Hit Dice
• Hit Points
• Proficiencies
• Other Class Features (Spells, Styles, etc)

Combat Mage

• Modified version of the Wizard.
• Can only carry 1 magazine to begin.
• Disregard material components.
• All spells risk specific critical failure side effects when rolling a 1.
• Can cast after slots run out and risk additional, worse side effects.
• Martial, Magical

Bounty Hunter

• Modified version of the Barbarian.
• Starts with 12 magazines, 2 extra projectile weapons.
• Martial
• Dual Fire

Street Samurai

• Modified version of the Fighter.
• Starts with 10 magazines.
• Martial

Technomancer

• Modified version of the Monk.
• Proficient with computers.
• 3 magazines.
• Lucky(Levels of Technomancer), Magical
• Treat ki as spells

Calculate Ability Scores

Standard distribution: 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8

Then modify by the Being and Class.

Choose Background

The SRD only has Acolyte.

• Additional Skill Proficiency
• 2 Languages or 2 Tools or 1 of each
• Alignment
• Faith
• Lifestyle
• Characteristics
• Features

Choose Cyberware

• Choose any combination from Version 1 with up to -6 critical failure penalty (these rules have significantly changed).

Choose Equipment

• 1 projectile weapon.
• 1 melee weapon.
• 1 armour.
• 1 libre comlink, the Flossy X7 with subvocal mic.
• 1 medkit (modified version of the Healing Potion).
• 1000 Nuyen.